Unmanned and under water

In future, wreckage of crashes in vast oceans can be found with greater efficiency using water bots

Even though the flying-in-the-air type of drones are captivating us, another category of unmanned autonomous vehicles are creating ripples across the world and in India. Like the airborne drones, the marine ones are in many categories and sizes. The biggest can be unmanned submarines which can be weaponised. And various smaller ones that can be used for civil and defence purposes. 

As in other cases, China has taken the lead by announcing the setting up of a deep sea exploration outpost that will use unmanned submarines. The outpost will be situated in the South China Sea and will be used for both science and defence, according to various reports. To counter this influence in the South China Sea, Japan is also planning to deploy autonomous water drones to monitor the seas for unusual activity.  

Another category of underwater drones can be deployed by submarines which are already at a certain depth. These autonomous baby submarines can try to reach the deepest parts of ocean that have not been explored yet. 

Scientists though are hoping to make the most of such vehicles for studying marine health,  the state of reefs and ocean contamination. Autonomous underwater drones can be more effective, resilient and offer continuous information using sensors. A drone called RangerBot has been busy protecting the Great Barrier Reef of Australia since August this year. The RangerBot will inject poison when it comes across reef eating starfish. 

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) deployed by US firm Ocean Infinity were instrumental in finding the wreckage of an Argentinian submarine in the Atlantic ocean recently. The submarine had been missing for a year but the sonar on the bots helped find the wreckage at the depth of half a mile. Such AUVs are making themselves very useful for search operations. In future, wreckage of crashes in vast oceans can be found with greater efficiency using such water bots. There is some way to go since Ocean Infinity had not been able to find the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370. 

The small drones are of two types, with or without a tether. Several companies are also launching drones for leisure and lifestyle with attached cameras and lights. The cheapest can be about $600. Many such products are available in the market with varying degrees of strength. These underwater drones are categorised by their ability to manage the strength of water currents. Most are ideal for swimming pools or placid waters. 

A young company has launched a commercial underwater drone recently for use in defence as well as civil purposes. Called EyeRoveTuna, the drone can be used to monitor and assess underwater structures. Such a drone can take still pictures or stream video of civil structures like bridges and dockyards for preventive maintenance. The clients of the company include The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and India Railways.  

These drones can do the work of divers, especially in dangerous and contaminated environments. The inspection of ship hulls needs to be done regularly and has so far been done by divers. The same applies to maintenance of offshore oil rigs, submarine cables, pipelines and dams. Sending divers can be hazardous, time-consuming and expensive. All such work will soon be done by underwater drones that can even be operated to assist divers. 

Like China, India must invest and support the development of underwater drones while creating an encouraging policy environment. With our long coastline and inland waterways, underwater drones can prove to be as useful as the airborne vehicles that will soon take to the skies of the country.